Even though it's still over a year away from its planned release date, Thor: Love and Thunder still feels worlds away. But as with all things related to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, speculation around this next entry into the God of Thunder's saga has been swirling since it had little more than a title attached to it.

The Thor of the MCU has gone through a lot of changes in his time on the silver screen, and Love and Thunder looks to continue that trend of the Avenger's evolution. His most recent change looks to have been confirmed by some behind-the-scenes set photos from the film's production, and it's a major callback to the most extreme version of Thor, Eric Masterson, the '90s hero better known as Thunderstrike.

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Eric Masterson - alternate Thor in Marvel Comics

The recent reveal from the set shows Chris Hemsworth in his new Thor costume, one that fits right at home alongside costar Chris Pratt's Star-Lord. The new look features fitted pants and a red leather vest with the prerequisite '80s style double lapels, all showing off the God of Thunder's thunderous arms. With the confirmation that Thor will be once again journeying the stars with the Guardians of the Galaxy, this heavy metal style is the perfect evolution of the MCU's Thor, and it's one that seems inspired by - or at least parallel to - the design of the early '90s Thor, Thunderstrike.

First appearing in 1988's Thor #391 by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, Eric Masterson was a New York architect who found himself a bystander during an attack by a villain named Mongoose. After Mongoose revealed himself to be working for Count Tagar, Thor and Eric undertook the task of retrieving Hercules and the High Evolutionary from the Black Galaxy to stave off any further violence. While they successfully bring back their quarry, another attack by Mongoose proves fatal to Eric just when he is lifting Mjolnir. Thor pleads with Odin to spare Eric's life, and the elder of the two gods merges Eric and Thor, though each retained their individual personalities during this time. During a battle with Nobilus, the two were separated, though it wouldn't be the end of Eric's time as Thor.

After the original God of Thunder killed his brother Loki, he was banished for breaking Odin's sacred law. Not wanting to leave Midgard defenseless, Thor pleaded for Heimdall to ensure its safety, and the elder Asgardian imbued Eric with all of the powers of the God of Thunder. As Thor, Eric fought alongside the Avengers until his predecessor returned, and he took up the name Thunderstrike to continue his heroic adventures under. And in his classic Thundetstrike costume, Masterson has the double-lapel leather vest, bulging arms and messy hair that the MCU's thor appears to sport in Love and Thunder. And in the same way that Thunderstrike's look was a synthesis of the classic Thor design and that era's trends, Thor's Love and Thunder look merges the aesthetics of the Guardians of the Galaxy and more classical Asgardian stylings.

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As Thunderstrike, Eric continued his trend of fighting evil alongside other heroes in the Marvel Universe, including War Machine and the Silver Surfer. Unfortunately, Eric died in a battle with Bloodaxe, which required Eric to sacrifice himself to defeat the villain. When Thunderstrike arrived in Valhalla, he was greeted by Skurge and Thor, both ready to welcome him to the hall of heroes alongside other fallen champions. However, Eric rejected his place among the greatest of the dead, instead choosing to let his spirit venture elsewhere.

It wouldn't be the end of Thunderstrike, as Eric's son Kevin would later take up his father's mantle, though his iteration of the hero didn't quite have the same impact that the original did. And while it isn't likely that Thunderstrike is going to be showing up in the MCU anytime soon, it looks like his influence on the Thor mythos is still being felt, even years after his time as the God of Thunder.

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